Senior Design Director

Position Overview

We are looking for an experienced senior design leader to helm the creative and commercial vision for our seasonal, holiday, and home décor product collections targeting the US and Canadian markets. This leadership role encompasses establishing trends, representing the design perspective directly to major retail clients, and managing the design studio and crafts team based in Dongguan, China. The role requires balancing trendsetting with practical, production-ready product development, collaborating closely with merchandising and sourcing teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Define seasonal and year-round trend directions for mass retail in the US and Canada, interpreting early market signals into commercially viable assortments.
• Lead presentations to clients and buyers, acting as the authoritative design voice during line reviews, seasonal pitch meetings, and trade exhibitions.
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with retail buyers and merchandising teams, understanding their aesthetic preferences, price tiers, and shelf performance drivers.
• Guide the creative vision across key seasonal periods such as Christmas, Halloween, and Easter, plus ongoing home and garden products.
• Collaborate with merchandising and sourcing to translate retail briefs and trends into products with strong sell-through potential.
• Drive original product development starting from trend research and conceptualization through to finalized production specifications.
• Lead the Dongguan design studio and crafts team, including industrial designers, graphic artists, sculptors, and crafts specialists.
• Manage studio operations involving sample development, materials testing, and rapid prototyping procedures.
• Work jointly with Product Managers and sourcing to optimize designs for manufacturability across diverse materials like resin, ceramics, metal, textiles, wood, glass, PVC, and electronics/lighting.
• Oversee and enhance the product showroom to serve as a compelling "Category Gallery" for international clients and merchandising setups.
• Administer the company's design intellectual property portfolio to ensure originality and proper licensing, avoiding any direct market imitation.
• Evaluate and incorporate new materials, finishes, and manufacturing methods to maintain competitive product offerings.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Fifteen or more years in product design with a minimum of five years in senior leadership such as Director or VP level roles.
• Established expertise in forecasting and setting design and trend direction for seasonal and home décor focused on the US and Canadian markets.
• Extensive experience in direct client interactions with major retail buyers, including leading presentations and managing design relationships independently.
• Excellent presentation skills adaptable to audiences from C-level executives to retail buyers and trade show participants.
• Comprehensive background in seasonal/holiday décor, home décor, giftware, or related consumer product categories.
• Strong knowledge of major retail channels, including mass market, specialty segments, and e-commerce platforms, with an understanding of their merchandising standards.
• Proven leadership of a design studio or creative team comprising 10 or more professionals.
• In-depth understanding of manufacturing technologies and processes such as resin molding, ceramics, metalworking, textiles, woodworking, lighting/electronics, and glass production.
• Practical experience collaborating directly with factories in China, including on-site visits and production-line coordination.
• Ability to synergize Western retail design aesthetics with Chinese manufacturing realities.
• Familiarity with intellectual property protection and original design development within a China-based manufacturing context.
• English fluency is mandatory; proficiency in Mandarin is a significant advantage.

Preferred Additional Skills and Experience

• Exposure to the Mexican market.
• Knowledge or experience with outdoor/garden products, animatronics, or illuminated décor items.
• Experience developing off-season or non-holiday product lines such as everyday home and garden décor.
• Awareness of US and EU product compliance and quality standards (e.g., CPSIA, EN71).
• Familiarity with product development cycles typical for seasonal retail, generally spanning 12 to 18 months.
• Existing contacts and networks within the Dongguan and Pearl River Delta manufacturing ecosystem.

Location and Travel Requirements

Candidates may be based in the United States, Canada, or Dongguan, China. Significant in-person presence is expected at the Dongguan design studio during peak development seasons. The position includes frequent international travel for trade shows, client/buyer meetings, and factory site visits.